Teacher's aide accused of having sex with students still on the run

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The search continues for a Lakeland teacher's aide accused of having sex with several male students from Tenoroc High School.

Officials say 30-year-old Curtis Leonard Jiles, who works at Tenoroc, was supposed to turn himself at the Polk County Jail Friday, but he never showed up and now he's on the run.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd describes Jiles as a "nasty, nasty guy" who paid at least two students for sex.

"We want this guy in jail. He is a manipulator. He approaches these kids, he offers them $20, offers them $200, and whatever the offer is it's to groom or convince this child to engage in sex with him. We plan to stop that," Judd told reporters on Saturday.

In one instance, the sheriff says Jiles had sex with a student inside a school bathroom. In another instance, Judd says Jiles followed a school bus and, when his victim exited the bus, he paid for the boy to have sex with him in his car.

Jiles is also accused of soliciting at least two other boys. Authorities say all four victims are between the ages of 15 and 17.

Judd believes there are more victims. "I'm not naïve, (these are) not the only four," he said.

Jiles was investigated in 2007, but officials were never able to gather enough evidence for a charge. The sheriff believes the school district was made aware of that investigation, but like his office, didn't have enough evidence to take action.

"We don't see anything at this point in our investigation which leads us to believe the school district was not doing what they should have done."

Neighbors tell 10 News Jiles is married with boys of his own.

No one answered the door at his home on Saturday, while neighbors seemed stunned by the allegations. But Melvin Bazan, who lives just a few doors down, says the case underscores the fact that you never really know the people who live in your neighborhood.

"You really don't know who is around you. The person next door you might think is a great guy, but behind doors you really don't know who you're talking to," he said.